Social Influence Experiment Analysis

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of participants conformed to the incorrect answers given by confederates in the card size experiment?

50%

75% (correct)

100%

90%

Which term describes the phenomenon where participants in a group lose their sense of personal identity?

Social facilitation

Conformity

Deindividuation (correct)

Disinhibition

In the Stanford Prison Experiment, how did guards typically behave towards prisoners?

Confused and chaotic

Indifferent and passive

Assertive and dominant (correct)

Supportive and empathetic

What was the primary factor identified in the meta-analysis of deindividuation studies that disinhibited behavior?

Group size Signup and view all the answers

In Milgram's obedience study, what consequence did participants believe they were delivering to the learner?

Bogus electrical shocks Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the reduction in personal accountability when individuals act as part of a group?

Diffusion of responsibility Signup and view all the answers

What outcome was observed in control participants during the card size guessing experiment?

They did not make any mistakes. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes social facilitation?

Improved performance in the presence of others Signup and view all the answers

What effect does social facilitation have on simple tasks performed in the presence of others?

Performance is improved Signup and view all the answers

What does Latane and Darley's concept of 'Diffusion of Responsibility' suggest?

As group size increases, individual responsibility decreases Signup and view all the answers

How does deindividuation affect individual behavior in a group?

It can lead to anti-social behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the presence of others and pool players' accuracy as studied by Michaels et al.?

Good players improved; poor players worsened Signup and view all the answers

What was the main finding of Beaman et al. (1979) regarding self-awareness and candy theft?

Fewer children took extra candy when mirrors were present Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential explanation offered by Zajonc for social facilitation effects?

Presence of others increases arousal Signup and view all the answers

In Mann's (1981) examination of bystander behavior, how did group presence affect responses to a potential suicide victim?

Groups displayed a lack of action compared to individuals Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic defines conformity as studied by Solomon Asch?

Agreement with the larger group's incorrect answers Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

A study involved groups of 10-12, displaying pairs of cards of varying lengths (4’, 6’, 8’, and 6’ long) to determine size comparisons.
Participants, except one genuine, were confederates who consistently provided incorrect answers, resulting in 75% of real participants conforming to the majority opinion.
Control participants did not make errors in judgments.

Newcomb's Study

Investigated the shift in social and political attitudes of conservative students at a liberal college.
Students initially held conservative views but adapted to the college's liberal ethos by graduation.

Stanford Prison Experiment

Conducted by Zimbardo, assigned students roles of guards and prisoners over two weeks.
Guards exhibited dominant and supportive behavior toward each other despite their brutality, while prisoners became submissive and viewed the guards as overwhelmingly powerful.
The experiment was terminated after six days due to ethical concerns over psychological harm.

Milgram's Obedience Study

Examined the extent of obedience by asking participants to administer fake electrical shocks to a confederate for each incorrect answer during a learning experiment.
Shock levels increased by 15 volts, with some participants erring toward extreme levels (up to "DANGER XXX").
66% of teachers administered maximum shocks despite hearing distress from the learner, highlighting the potential for harming others under authority pressure.

Presence of others can enhance or impair individual performance based on task complexity.
Tasks: Simple tasks improve performance (e.g., more laughter or eating), while complex tasks deteriorate when observed.
Zajonc's Drive Theory: Social presence increases arousal, enhancing dominant responses, which improves performance if the response is correct but worsens if incorrect.

Diffusion of Responsibility

Illustrative case: Kitty Genovese was murdered while 38 neighbors observed, and no one intervened.
Latane and Darley's concept describes reduced individual responsibility in larger groups, evidenced by fewer reactions to smoke when people waited in groups.

Deindividuation

Anonymity in groups can lead to loss of self-awareness, prompting anti-social behavior.
Aggression can increase under anonymity, with Zimbardo showing how individuals may act out in groups, as seen in mob behavior.
Beaman et al. demonstrated that self-awareness (e.g., being in front of a mirror) decreases anti-social actions, such as taking excess Halloween candy.

Solomon Asch's Conformity Study

Focused on how individuals adjust their opinions to align with group consensus, showcasing the power of conformity.

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Description

This quiz explores the results of a social influence experiment where participants guessed the size of cards after hearing confederates provide incorrect answers. The findings highlight the power of majority influence on individual beliefs and decision-making. Analyze the implications of social conformity and its effects on judgment.